UTEP wide receiver Adams keeps eye on ball

On the field, Kris Adams has been everything UTEP knew he could be this season.

The senior has been a scoring machine who now sits tied for fifth in the FBS both receiving touchdowns this year (nine) and receiving touchdowns in a career (25) by an active player.

Adams has stepped up to the No. 1 receiver role and, more importantly, into a leadership role on the team. He has been anything but soft.

Then again, his girlfriend Keisha Allen sees a man who can be soft - every night when he comes home to her and their 2-year-old son Kristofer Jr.

"He's playful; he acts just like a baby," said Allen, a regular fixture with Kristofer Jr. at the end of UTEP practices. "They argue like they're brothers. You'd think he's a little cousin. Kris is a good dad."

And a busy one.

"I don't do much outside my family," he said. "I've got football, school, a son, a girlfriend. That keeps you pretty busy.

"I've got a few friends back home (Fort Worth). I have friends on the team. I'm pretty busy after that."

Said Allen of his routine: "Football, football, more football, his son. When he gets home, if he has a little time, he'll play his Xbox 360, but that's about it."

A big part of Adams' time, of course, is keeping track of Kristofer Jr.

"When he was really small you have to keep an eye on him all the time," Adams said.

"When they get older their badder. But he's definitely my little man, though he's a momma's boy.

"We have fun together, but he has a mouth on him.

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He's always telling me to shut up."
Then he smiled: "Yeah, we have fun."

The recent two losses aside, the football part has been fun for Adams this year. After a spectacular breakout sophomore campaign two years ago (14 touchdowns for the second most in a season in school history, 958 yards), he regressed last season (two touchdowns, 580 yards). He struggled with drops and seemed to lose his swagger.

It's back this year.

"His whole attitude has changed," his quarterback Trevor Vittatoe said. "He's being more of a leader at the receiver position. He's not taking any days off. His confidence level is a lot higher because of all the extra work he's done to get better."

That was a decision on Adams' part.

"It's about leadership," he said. "Last year, the seniors didn't take over the team like they could have. This year there was more focus on that. Practice is very important to set a tone."

From the first day of fall camp, Adams has worked as if his position depended on it. Certainly the hopes he has of playing next year (and at 6-foot-3 he has the size and leaping ability to play in the NFL) does depend on it.

"Every day I have to come out and work for a job," Adams said. "It isn't guaranteed. You can't be satisfied. I worked harder in the weight room, I got faster, I got stronger."

His numbers bear that out. He has caught passes in 32 consecutive games, ranking him tied for 10th among active players, and his 2,212 career yards ranks him 15th among active receivers.

"Kris Adams is a tremendous outside receiver," coach Mike Price said. "He can run and out-jump the defensive backs, and he's faster than he looks. He's good on deep routes.

He's a good target. He seems to have a real knack for tracking the ball and jumping at the right time.

"He has a real chance to play on Sundays because he's faster than he looks and has a long stride."

On Saturdays he uses that to leave defensive backs behind. During the week, he uses it to keep a certain 2-year-old in front of him.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359.

Coming up

What: UTEP vs. Marshall in a Conference USA football game.

When: 1 p.m. MDT Saturday.

Where: Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W.Va.

Records: UTEP is 5-3, 2-3 in C-USA; Marshall is 1-6, 0-3.

On air: KOFX 92.3-FM.

Last week: UTEP lost to Tulane, 34-24; Marshall lost to East Carolina, 37-10.

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